Customer Reviews

Boomer's Story

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have been a long time fan of Ry Cooder's music. Boomers' Story has always been dear to my heart. Ry's version of Maria Elena is the sweetest I've heard, gives me goosebumps! Each song on this cd (album in my day!!) is first rate. Good morning Mr. Railroad Man indeed!!! Seems to me that there is a celebration of a great many important human emotions expressed in this music, and I think I am fortunate to have shared in it all. I saw Ry Cooder in a few small venue performances in the 70's and came away with an enlightened feeling that has stayed with me through the years. This is real art, folks.

I had never heard of Ry Cooder until I found out he did the soundtrack for the movie "Crossroads". I immediately bought this album and it's one of my favorites. I still get goose bumps when I listen to "Dark End of the Street" and "A Wing and a Prayer". Many of these songs were written in the pre-World War II era and I don't think the compositions were changed too much from the originals. With a bunch of great musicians though these songs give them a chance to play some incredible music.

Ry broke into the digital technology early in the game, a pioneer. Interestingly, Ry was also one of the first out of the gate to digitalize his early releases, and we're fortunate for it. This release was pivital in 1972, and just as ground breaking in the CD format. Ry cataloged a variety of styles here, renditions of folk songs, delta, progressive blues... all with the originality and sparkle of Ry Cooder's slide guitar style. Profoundly original.

Cherry Ball Blues is my very favorite release, slide guitar, tablas, bass and a few more interesting bits and pieces put together in a tasteful acoustic fusion.

What really brings this release together is the bass playing of Tommy McClure. I really dig his style. Randy Newman is present, Sleepy John Estes (Ax sweet mama, President Kennedy), Jim Keltner on drums, a a few more. Really thoughtful and inspiring musicality. The liner notes don't really add much history behind the recording, but perhaps a quick search will bring together a bit of the studio log, and events associated with the "album."

This release and myself have a history. I bought it in 1972 on vinyl LP, scratched it all up, found another LP at a Flea Market then FINALLY, and thank you Ry, the digital version on CD came out. It won't disappoint.

Gimme some yes votes, if you will. Thanks!!

Enjoy!

richly textured, this recording is a prime example of the future soundtrack work and the cultural melting pot that cooder has refined into an ecclectic style all his own. It draws on old tradionals,and has some really silky slide work It is one of his mellower c-d's that he sings on.It's perfect sunday morning music .

I am a lover of hear nor there type of music and Ry Cooder fits in perfectly. He picks American roots no doubt but basically adds hear nor there variations to make his efforts pretty much easy going. That includes his delivery.Musically his creations are very rich and his sound almost perfect, I wish Dylan used his services for some of his albums like "blood on the tracks","desire" and "street legal".

The songs here are slightly "enhanced" - nice presence, rich bass, brighter high end - and might be an improvement over the old CD on some songs, but this reissue is fatally flawed. Both "Ax Sweet Mama" and "Maria Elena" are grotesquely slowed down, dropping a semitone or so and dragging lethargically. Also, several of the songs on side 2 have a good bit of crackle in the right channel. Stick with the regular CD. This is a mess.

Im so glad i was able to pick this 1972 classic up the guitar playing is amazing and touches my heart every time i listen to it.
There is a lot of beautiful instrumental pieces cooder does on this album. Like skip james's cherry ball blues i love that song great guitar piece.
Maria elena is a very beautiful piece of music and lets not forget dark end of the street thats my favorite song on the album its amazing and touching.
The rest of the songs are good too ry cooders sings on the rest of the songs. And legend sleepy john estes plays on president kennedy while cooder tears it up on the mandolin.
This is a must if your a cooder fan. I sure glad i bought it! And yes in my opinion ry cooder is one of thee best guitar players i have ever heard. His playing is amazing!

If you like Ry Cooder then this is must have - early work with great group of studio musicians from the LA scene - great album from start to finish!